https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:19:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2344588 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:39:25 +0000 erinpye 2344588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter goes to a school 30 minutes away, 5 days a week. It's from 8:30 to 11 AM, so if I go home, I have an hour and a half before I turn around and drive for an hour again. It SUCKS. Do not do that much driving if you don't have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2344476 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 14:49:15 +0000 winniebee 2344476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: thanks for your perspective! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343615 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 20:35:41 +0000 Silva 2343615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm currently driving 45 minutes one way two days a week to keep my 2.5 year old in the same in home daycare place after our move.<br /> Initially I figured she was going to have enough disruptions with the move, and next fall she will start a preschool near us. We chose an in-home daycare provider so that she could bond with one adult, and I didn't want to pull her from that. We didn't have any local recommendations, and I really wanted to keep her in a small program until preschool.<br /> BUT<br /> The commute is brutal, especially after I've had a long day at work and she is tired (I listened to Oats and Beans and Barley ON REPEAT all the way home the other day so that she wouldn't cry). I'm a therapist and after seeing clients all day, I would do a lot of things just to be able to drive home in peace and process my day. I really underestimated how tough that drive would be. I try really hard not to dread it, because I know she's excited to see me, but its rough.</p> <p>If there was a better option here, I'd probably switch at this point. But there really isn't. (we are pretty rural and there just aren't a lot of options- the daycare in town has a chain-fenced 10x20 area with a few plastic toys as outdoor space). I keep telling myself its only two days a week, and its only until next summer. I can do it. I can do it.</p> <p>So- if you have a closer option, I'd go for it. It might be a tough transition, but probably worth it in the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343602 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 20:28:14 +0000 winniebee 2343602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: I'm thinking along those lines. It's probably going to be bumpy in January anyhow.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343600 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 20:27:48 +0000 winniebee 2343600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jmarionsmith: oh that's tough!!! Sorry about the commute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343599 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 20:27:14 +0000 winniebee 2343599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all! I feel some level of guilt because he's old enough to have friends, talk about them, get excited about school etc. I guess kids do it all the time even in high school though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343511 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 18:33:07 +0000 jmarionsmith 2343511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, we are in a similar situation. We just moved a town over and it is about a 25 minute drive to LO's preschool (it was previously 5 minutes :bummed: ) But because it is literally impossible to get into an affordable (for us) preschool at this point in the year we are just going to stick it out and make the drive for the rest of the year. (My husband and I will alternate drop off and pick up.)</p> <p>All that said, if I were in your situation, I *think* I would go ahead and switch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343486 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:49:42 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2343486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The transition is going to kind of suck no matter when you do it. So since you are doing it anyway, I think December makes sense. (We moved and switched preschools - while potty training - this summer.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343451 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:04:11 +0000 BandDmommy 2343451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: it only works for us because you can drop off at 6 am and don't have to pick up until 6 pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343448 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 17:00:25 +0000 winniebee 2343448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: with the new school, it's on DH way to work too so in theory he could do drop off...though the day doesn't start until 8:30 so probably not. Goes 8:30-3:30. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343446 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:57:52 +0000 BandDmommy 2343446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I drop off and DH picks up. But yes, longer day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343445 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:57:32 +0000 winniebee 2343445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: the school system in the new town is really awesome, so we'll probably send him to public kindergarten...no sense in spending $$ if we don't have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343444 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:57:04 +0000 winniebee 2343444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: thanks! he also has a longer day (until 5 right?) so that might make the commute more worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343442 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:55:59 +0000 BandDmommy 2343442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: we currently drive 30 mins each way to Bs school. For us, it's worth it but we plan on keeping him there through K. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343441 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:54:53 +0000 BandDmommy 2343441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: if you plan on switching him eventually, I would go ahead and switch now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343439 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:53:45 +0000 mediagirl 2343439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Yes. It's too much to drive that far just for preschool. Thinking of your winters and the short amount of time he will be there, it's not worth it to drive that far. Switch. There will be an adjustment period, though.</p> <p>Would you consider keeping him in the Montessori school for K? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-preschools-because-of-move#post-2343431 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 16:47:59 +0000 winniebee 2343431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>T is 3.5 and goes to a preschool program 3 days a week from 8-3. I work on those 3 days and we have a nanny for R (11 months). The nanny usually does either the drop off or the pick up since R is usually napping around at least one of the nap times. The school is about 15 mins from us now. It's a Reggio Emilia school and we have loved it. T was there 2 days a week last year in the toddler program. But it is really expensive (it was the only option when we moved to the area and then we just ended up really liking it).</p> <p>So, now we are moving to the next town over. We're buying a house and presumably this is the town where T will attend kindergarten. He will still attend preschool next year though since he won't be old enough for K until the following year.</p> <p>Our move brings us 20 mins away from the current school. There is a Montessori school 5 mins away from the new house that is well regarded. We plan to send him there in the fall (or perhaps even for some of the summer camps this summer....since school is technically out of session). Right now, there is only a spot for him 2 days a week, though. So, he would go to school 2 days, with the nanny one day, and home with me 2 days. It's a bit less expensive than the other preschool (less per year...and with only going 2 days is an additional $350 cheaper a month, since we pay our nanny the same for 1 or 2 kids).</p> <p>We have pre-paid a portion of the year already, but our next balance is due in December. We plan to close 12/15.</p> <p>So, my question is would you switch your 3.5 year old's preschool halfway through the year based on what I've written? At first, I didn't want to rock the boat with a new house, move, and new school. But as I'm thinking about it, 2 hours in the car (even if divided by me and the nanny) in the snow sounds terrible. Do you think switching school philosophies is a bad idea, too? WWYD? </p>